Cooper Albers previews Friday’s MLB series opener between the Detroit Tigers and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
American League bottom-feeders kick off a three-game series under the Friday night lights, as the Detroit Tigers visit the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The Tigers (20–31, 5th AL Central) have lost 14 of their last 16 games and hit the road after dropping six straight contests on their home field. The Orioles (21–29, 5th AL East) have faltered in 13 of 19 May outings and flock back to Baltimore after a 1–5 road swing.
As for pitching probables, we’ve got Detroit right-hander Jack Flaherty (0–5, 5.77 ERA) taking on Baltimore righty Chris Bassitt (3–3, 5.44 ERA).
First pitch is at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Orioles enter as 1.5-run home favorites with -143 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Tigers are +119 underdogs, with the game total set at O/U 8.5 runs.
To provide a glimpse of how Detroit’s season is going, Tarik Skubal trade speculation is already picking up. The Tigers — currently on the hook for an MLB-worst 7–19 road record — have dropped 14 of their last 16 games dating back to May 4, ranking near the bottom of the majors in virtually every facet of the game during that stretch.
Even if you factor in the stellar efforts of Riley Greene, the club sits 28th league-wide in wRC+, wOBA, and xwOBA amid this tailspin. Detroit also ranks dead last in total runs scored, while striking out more than every team outside a five-mile radius of Disneyland.
Meanwhile, Detroit’s bullpen has become increasingly spent due to abysmal production from its starting rotation. Since May 4, Motor City starters have mustered the fewest innings in the sport, while ranking 23rd in ERA and 29th in left-on-base percentage.
The Tigers need more from veteran right-hander Jack Flaherty, who has gotten crushed to the tune of a 5.77 ERA (5.08 xERA) and a 1.60 WHIP through 10 starts (43.2 IP) this year. Most recently, the former World Series champion coughed up four earned runs over six innings against the Blue Jays.
After years of encouraging growth, the Orioles now find themselves staring down another last-place finish in the AL East. Though not quite as cold as the Tigers, they have gone just 6–13 since the beginning of May — the fifth-worst mark in the majors during that span.
While star slugger Pete Alonso has recaptured his power, Baltimore ranks in the MLB’s bottom 10 in wRC+, wOBA, xwOBA, and total runs scored this month. It hasn’t helped that Gunnar Henderson has posted a 56 wRC+ during this stretch, meaning he’s been 44% worse than league average.
Baltimore’s pitching staff — comprising a mediocre starting unit and a battered bullpen — has continued to take its lumps, this month ranking 26th in HR/9, 29th in BB/9, and dead-last in ERA and left-on-base percentage.
On Thursday, the O’s will roll out aging starter Chris Bassitt. While he’s danced around barrels, the 37-year-old righty owns a 5.44 ERA (4.99 xERA) and a 1.70 WHIP across nine appearances (eight starts) in 2026. He recently yielded four earned runs over five frames against the Nationals.
Friday’s series opener features a pair of starters who give up a lot — like, a lot — of runs. Even against slumping offenses, Flaherty and Bassitt should still manage bloated pitching lines at the hitter-friendly Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Expect a high-scoring affair in Baltimore.
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